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Access to Health

Good access to health care is particularly important for women with disabilities because they often have other health concerns in addition to their disabilities.  Yet women with disabilities face many barriers to care, often simply because people haven't thought about the problems they may encounter.  Women with disabilities may not receive regular medical care because of barriers in the physical environment or the attitudes and perceptions of health-care providers.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires public buildings to be accessible to people with disabilities, and health-care facilities are held to a high standard under the Act.  ADA requires medical offices to have

• Accessible parking, ramps, and rails for getting in and out of buildings

• Restrooms large enough for wheelchairs

Other universal design features not required by law but more welcoming to women with disabilities include:

• Lower reception counters to greet women in wheelchairs

• Scales that accommodate people who use wheelchairs or have difficulty standing without support

• Motorized, adjustable-height examination tables

Perhaps just as important, medical and office staff need to have training on basic rules of disability etiquette and how to best communicate with and assist women with various disabilities.  A few examples:

• Offer assistance to a person with a disability if you wish, but wait to see if your offer is accepted and listen to any instructions about the best way to help.  Don't touch a person's equipment without asking first.

• Speak directly to a person with a disability rather than through someone accompanying her.

• Identify yourself and others who may be with you when you greet a person with vision impairment.

• Look directly at a person with hearing loss and speak slowly, clearly, and expressively.

• Take time to be sure people with cognitive disabilities understand you.  Use simple words and add gestures. You may need to write down information or draw a simple picture.

Think About It

Part of CDC's challenge is to raise awareness about including women with disabilities in research and ensuring they are a target audience for health promotion activities.  A study on heart disease, for example, might include women with disabilities and document their incidence of heart conditions so it may be compared with that of women without disabilities.  A public service announcement about breast cancer screening might include a woman getting a mammogram in a wheelchair.  And a brochure encouraging physical activity could include information on exercise for women with physical limitations.

Thierry stresses the importance of working collaboratively with women with disabilities to ensure they are active participants in all phases of CDC's research projects.

"I don't think people intentionally exclude women with disabilities from their programs," she said.  "They just don't think about including them."

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National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) promotes the health of babies, children, and adults, and enhances the potential for full, productive living.  Our work includes identifying the causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all ages with disabilities.